Defender set to move from Liverpool to London after talks open on £6.5m transfer – report

28th May, 2016, 2:19 PM

By London correspondent Tony Hughes

Steven Caulker is in talks to join Crystal Palace in a £6.5million deal, according to a report.

The Guardian claim Palace have opened negotiations with QPR aimed at making Caulker their first signing of the summer.

The Tottenham youth-team graduate spent the second half of the season on loan at Liverpool but barely got a look in despite Jurgen Klopp fielding a number of experimental line-ups due to the team’s congested fixture list.

Caulker, who spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Southampton, managed only one Premier League start in the entirety of the campaign.

The 24-year-old, who moved to QPR from Cardiff in 2014 for £8million, is keen to revive his stuttering career in the top flight.

Rangers are said to be seeking a deal worth a potential £6.5million for the defender, whom Palace would consider a long-term partner for Scott Dann at centre-half.

Damien Delaney has signed a new 12-month deal at Selhurst Park, but Palace could lose Adrian Mariappa on a free transfer despite the Jamaica international having been offered new terms in south London.

Another defender, the veteran Brede Hangeland, is also out of contract while Martin Kelly is reportedly interesting both West Brom and Sunderland.